Defining Freedom

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"We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal,
that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights,
that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness."
--from the Declaration of Independence

Charters of Freedom

The Clash Clampdown
Uploaded by DrEuthanasia. - Explore more music videos.

“Working for the Clampdown,” by The Clash

What are we gonna do now?! . . .
Taking off his turban, they said is this man a Jew?
Cos they’re working for the Clampdown.
They put up a poster saying we earn more than you!
When we’re working for the Clampdown,
We will teach our twisted speech
To the young believers.
We will train our blue-eyed men
To be young believers.

The judge said five to ten—but I say double that again,
I’m not working for the Clampdown,
No man born with a living soul,
Can be working for the Clampdown,
Kick over the wall, cause governments to fall
How can you refuse it?
Let fury have the hour, anger can be power,
D’you know that you can use it?

The voices in your head are calling
Stop wasting your time there’s nothing coming
Only a fool would think someone could save you.
The men at the factory are old and cunning
You don’t owe nothing so boy get runnin’
It’s the best years of your life they want to steal.

You grow up and you calm down,
You’re working for the Clampdown.
You start wearing blue and brown,
You’re working for the Clampdown
So you got someone to boss around
It makes you feel big now
You drift until you brutalize
You made your first kill now

In these days of evil presidentés
Working for the Clampdown
But lately one or two has fully paid their due
For working for the Clampdown
But Ha! Gitalong! Gitalong!

And I’ve given away no secrets,
Who’s barmy now?

Langston Hughes

Refugee in America
There are words like Freedom
Sweet and wonderful to say.
On my heart-strings freedom sings
All day everyday.
There are words like Liberty
That almost make me cry.
If you had known what I knew
You would know why.
—Langston Hughes
From:
Selected Poems of Langston Hughes. New York: Vintage, 1990. 290.

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